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LETTERS 



OF 



DR. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 

SIGNER OF THE 
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 



AND HIS SON 

WILLIAM FRANKLIN 

COLONIAL GOVERNOR OF NEW JERSEY 

TO ';,; 

WILLIAM STRAHAN 

THE PUBLISHER 



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LETTERS 

FROM BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AND HIS 
SON, \^ILLIAM FRANKLIN. 



''N Franklin, Benjamin, a. I. s. 4to, 3 pages. Philadelphia, 

■^^ Oct. 19, 1748. To Wm. Strahan. 

'^ Philad"* Oct. 19, 1748. 

^' Dear Sir 

> I receiv'd your favour of April 25, with the Maps 

'^^ &c. — I am glad the Polybius did not come, and hope 

you will not have sent it when this reaches your Hands ; 
it was intended for my Son, who was then in the Army, 
and seemed bent on a military Life ; but as Peace cuts 
off his Prospect of Advancem^. in that Way, he will ap- 
ply himself to other Business. Enclos'd I send you his 
Certificate from the Governor of New York, by which 
he is entitled to /^98.i6.4 Sterling, being his pay ; with 
a Letter of Attorney impowering you to receive it ; I 
know not what the Deduction will be at the Pay Office ; 
but desire you will give my Ace' Credit for the net 
Proceeds. I am in daily Expectation of a Bill from 
Virginia of 50 jC which I shall remit you towards 
the Ballance, & M'' Hall will ace": with you for those 
Things you have sent me, that are put in his Invoice. 
Our Acc^? agree, except that I have charg'd you^^'i. 9. 7. 
for the Ainsworth & James Read, the 6/7 being the 
Proportion of Charges on that Book, and the Bill on 
Geo Rigge my Ace!' called ^{^15.7.11. yours ^15.7.1; 
which is but a small Variation ; & I know not but yours 
may be right. 

I have lately sent a Printing house to Antigua, 
by a very sober, honest «& diligent young Man, who 
has already (as I am informed by divers Hands,) gain'd 
the Friendship of the principal People, and is like get 
into good Business. This will open another Market for 
your Books if you think fit to use it : for I am per- 
suaded, that if you .shall send him a Parcel with any 
Quantity of Stationary he may write to you for, he will 
make you good and punctual Returns. His name is 



Thomas Smith ; he is the only Printer on that Island : — 
had worked with me here and at mj' Printing-house in 
N York, 3 or 4 Years, and always behaved extremely 
well. 

M' Tho' Osborne Bookseller of London, is en- 
deavoirriug to open a Correspoi^dence in the Plantations 
for the Sale of his Books : He has accordingly sent 
several Parcels, i to M'' Parker of N. York, i to M'' 
Read here, & one to M'' Parks in Virginia. I have 
seen the Invoices to Parker & Read ; and observe the 
Books to be very high charged, so that I believe they 
will not sell. I recommended Parker to you for Books, 
but he tells me has wrote you several Letters, & in two 
of them sent a Guinea to purchase some small Things, 
but never receiv'd, any Answer. Perhaps the Guineas 
made the Letters miscarry. He is very honest, punc- 
tual Man, and Will be in the Way of selling a great 

many Books ; 1 think you might find your Ace' in 

Writing to him. M'' Read having left off Bookselling 
Osborne has wrote to me, & desired me to take those 
Books into my Hands, proposing a Correspondence, &c. 

but I have declin'd it in a Letter per this Ship. 

My .spouse will write to M" Strahan, to whom my best 
Respects. By this time twelve month, if nothing extra- 
ordinary happen to prevent it, I hope to have the Plea- 
sure of seeing you both in London ; being, with great 
Esteem & Affection, D'' Sir, 

Your obliged Friend & Serv' 
B. Franklin. 
P. S. You will find 
M"' Geo. Smith, one of the 
Witnesses to the Power of 
Attorney at the Pensilvania Coffee House. 
He goes over in this Ship. 



Franklin, Benjamin, a. I. s. Folio, 2 pages. Philadel- 
phia, April 18, 1754. To Wm. Strahan. With address 



and seal in red wax. 
Dear Sir 



Philad'' April 18. 1754 



By Capt. Gibbon I recieved a Copy of yours pr 
the Myrtylla, but she's not yet arrived. I am glad to 
hear the Bills I sent you for 100/^ Slerl^-'- are accepted, 
and that the Goods were to be ship't soon for Connecti- 
cut. Bryant is arrived at New York, who left London 



the Middle of March ; I have not heard wether he has 
brought them. I now enclose you a Bill for 20^ Ster- 
ling, drawn by M'' Stevens on Alex'' Grant Merch' 
Loudon ; and what Ballance may remain unpaid, I will 
send as soon as I can know it. 

I am glad you have sent again the Things that 
wereship't in Davis. As to that Loss, give your self 
no Concern about it. It is mine, and but a Trifle. I 
do not know or regard what the Custom of Merchants 
may be in such Cases ; but when I reflect how much 
Trouble I have given you from time to time in my little 
Affairs, that you never charged me Commissions and 
have frequently been in Advance for me : were the Loss 
much greater, to be sure I should not suffer it to fall on 
you 

Benj"- Mecom writes ine that he has remitted you 
Thirty Pounds Sterl=- which I am pleas'dto hear. And 
am glad you have not sent him the great Parcel of 
Books, &c. which you mention he has wrote for. He 
is a young Lad, quite unacquainted with the World, 
and I fear would be much embarrass'd if he weut Sud- 
denly into Dealings too deep for his Stock. The People 
of those Islands might buy his Books, but I know they 
are very dull Pay, and he would find it impracticable 
to collect the money when it ought to be sent you. 
Pray keep him within Bounds, let him have good salable 
Sortments, but small, and not Suffer him to be more 
than Fifty Pounds in your Debt, if so much. It is best 
for him to proceed gradually, and deal more as his Stock 
and Experience increases. I am thankful to you for 
prudently delaying to Send what he so indiscretely 
wrote for, till you had advis'd me of it. Our Compli- 
ments to M''*- Strahan and your Children. 

I am, with great Bsteem, 
D'- Sir. 

Your most humble 
Servant 
Please to send me the B. Franklin. 

Philosophical Transactions 
from the End of Martin's 
Abridgement 1744 to the 
present time. I suppose they 
are not abridg'd ; Send 
them large as the came out. 
Also Dampier's Voyages. 4 vols. S^"- 

M''- Strahan. 



Franklin, Benjamin, a. I. s. 410, 2 pages. Portsmouth, 
Aug. 23, 1762. To Wm. Strahan. 

Portsmouth, Mondaj', Aug^ 

23, 1762 

Dear Sir, 1 

I have been two Nights on board expecting to 
sail, but the Wind continuing contrary, am just now 
come on shore again, & have met with your kind Letter 

of the 2o'^'^- 1 thank you even for the Reproofs it 

contains, tho' I have not altogether deserved them. 

I cannot, I assure you, quit even this disagreable Place 
without Regret, as it carries me still farther from those 
I love, and from the Opportunities of hearing of their 
Welfare. The Attraction of Reason is at present, for 
the other Side of the Water, but that of Inclination 
will be for this side. You know which usually prevails. 
I shall probably make but this one Vibration and Settle 

here for ever. Nothing will prevent it, if I can, as I 

hope I can, prevail with M'" F. to accompany me ; es- 
pecially if we have a Peace. I will not tell you, that to 
be near & with you and yours, is any part of my Induce- 
ment : It would look like a Complement extorted from 

me by your pretences to Insignificancy. Nor will I 

own that your Persuasions & Arguments have wrought 
this change in my former Resolutions : tho' it is true 
that they have frequently intruded themselves, into my 
Consideration whether I would or not 1 trust, how- 
ever, that we shall once more see each other and be 
happy again together; Which God &c. 

My love to M''^ Strahan, & your amiable and 
valuable Children. Heaven bless you all ; whatever 
becomes of 

your much obliged & 

afEectionate Friend 

B. Franklin. 



Franklin, Benjamin, a. I. s. Folio, 3 pages. Philadelphia, 
Dec. 7, 1762. To Wm. Strahan. With seal and address. 

Philad' Dec. 7, 1762 
Dear Friend, 

I wrote to you some time since to acquaint you 
with my Arrival, & the kind Reception, I met with 
from my old and many new Friends, notwithstanding 
D' Smith's false Reports in London of my Interest as 



declining here. I could not wish for a more hearty 
Welcome, & I never experienc'd greater Cordiality, 

We had a long Passage, near ten Weeks from 
Portsmouth to this Place, but it was a pleasant one ; for 
we had ten Sail in Company and a Man of War to pro- 
tect us ; we had pleasant Weather & fair winds, and 
frequently visited and dined from Ship to Ship ; we 
call'd too at the delightful Island of Madeira, by way of 
half-way House, where we replenish 'd our Stores, and 
took in many Refreshments. It was the time of their 
Vintage, and we hung the Ceiling of the Cabin with 
Bunches of fine Grapes which serv'd as a Desert at 
Dinner for some Weeks afterwards. The Reason of our 
being so long at Sea, was that Sailing with a Convoy, 
we could none of us go faster than the slowest, being 
oblig'd every day to shorten Sail, or lay by till they 
came up ; this was the only Inconvenience of our having 
Company, which was abundantly made up to us by the 
Sense of greater Safety ; the mutual good Offices daily 
exchanged & the other Pleasures of Society.* It was 
the Scarboraugh Cap't Stott, who took the greatest 
care of his little Convoy that can be imagined, & 
brought us all safely to our several Ports. I wish you 
would mention this to his Honour in your Paper. I 
have no Line from you yet, but I hope there is a Letter 
on its way to me. 

My Son is not arrived, & I begin to think he will 
Spend this Winter with you. M"' Hall I suppose writes 
by this Ship, I mention'd what you desir'd in your 
Letter to me at Portsmouth ; he informs me he has 
made some Remittances since I left England, and shall 
as fast as possible clear the Ace'- He blames himself 
for ordering so large a Cargo at once, and will keep 
more within Bounds hereafter. — 

M"' Hall sends you I believe, for sale, some Poetic 
Pieces of our young Geniuses ; — it would encourage 
them greatly if their Performance, could obtain any 
favourable Reception in England ; — I wish therefore 
you would take the proper steps to get them recom- 
mended to the Notice of the Publick as far at least as 
you may find they deserve, I know that no one can do 
this better than yourself. 

You have doubtless long .since-done Rejoining on 
the Conquest of the Havana. It is indeed a Conquest 
of great Importance ; but it has cost us dear, extremely 
dear, when we consider the Havock made in our little 
brave Army by Sickness. I hope it will, in the mak- 
ing of Peace, procure us some Advantages in Commerce 



or Possesion that may in time countervail this heavy 
Loss we have sustained in that Enterprise. 

I must joyn with David in petitioning that you 
would write all the Politicks ; you have an Opportunity 
of hearing them all and no one that is not quite in the 
Secre't of Affairs can judge better of them. I hope the 
crasy Heads that have been so long raving about Scotch- 
men & Scotland are by this time either broke or mended. 

My dear Love to M" Strahan, and bid her be well 
for all our sakes Remember me affectionately to Rachey 
& my little wife, & to your promising Sons my young 
Friends Billy, George & Andrew, — God bless you & 
let me find you well & happy when I come again to 
England, happy England! My Respects to M' John- 
son ; I hope he has got the Amonica in order before 
this time, & that Rachey plays daily with more & 
more Boldness & Grace, to the absolute charming of 
all her Acquaintances. 

In two years at farthest I hope to settle all my 
Affairs in such a manner, as that I may then conveniently 
remove to England, — provided we can persuade the 
good Woman to cross the Seas. That will be the great 
Difficulty : but you can help me a little in removing it. 

Present my Compliments to all the enquiring 
Friends, and believe me ever, 

My dear Friend, 

Yours most affectionately 

B. Franklin. 



Franklin, Benjamin, a. I. s. Folio, 3 pages. Philadelphia, 
Feby. 23, 1763. To. Wm. Strahan. With address and seal. 

Philad' Feb. 23, 1763. 
Dear Straney, 

I have only time to write one Line by this Con- 
veyance, just to congratulate you on the glorious Peace 
you have made, the most advantageous for the British 
Nation in my opinion of any your Annals have recorded. 
The Places you have left or restor'd to the French I look 
upon to be so much in our Power in case of a future 
War, as to be so many Hostages or Pledges of their good 
Behaviour. Love to M'" Strahan & your Children Billy 
joins in every affectionate Sentiment, with. Dear Friend, 

Your Affectionately, 

B. Franklin. 



Franklin, Benjamin, a. I. s. Folio, 3 pages. Philadelphia, 
Dec. 19, 1763. To Wui. Strahan. 

Philad" Dec. 19, 1763. 
Dear Strauey, 

I have before me your Favour.s of July 16, and 
Aug' 18 which is the latest- It vexes me excessively to 
see that Parker and Mecom are so much in Arrear with 
you. What is due from Parker is safe, and will be paid, 
I think with Interest, for he is a Man as honest as he is 
industrious & frugal, and has withal some Estate ; his 
Backwardness has been owing to his bad Partners only, 
of whom he is now nearly quit. But as to Mecom, he 
seems so dejected & friendless, that I fear little will be 
got of him. He has dropt his Papers, on which he built 
his last Hopes. I doubt I shall lose 200^ by him 
myself, but am taking steps to save what I can for you ; 
of which more fully in my next. 

Now I am returned from my long journeys which 
have consum'd the whole Summer, I shall apply myself 
to such a Settlement of all my Affairs, as will enable me 
to do what your Friendship so warmly urges. I have a 
great Opinion of your Wisdom (Madeira apart) and am 
apt enough to think that what you seem so clear in, & 
are so earnest about, must be right. Tho' I own, that 
I sometimes suspect, my Love to England & my Friends 
there Seduces me a little, and makes 7nv own middling 
Reasons for going over, appear very good ones. We 
shall see in a little Time how Things will turn out. 

Blessings on your Heart for the Feast of Politicks 
you gave me in your last. I could by no other means 
have obtained so clear a View of the present State of 
your public affairs as by your Letter. Most of your 
Observations appear to me extremely Judicious, strick- 
ingly clear & true. I only differ from you in some of 
the melancholly Apprehensions you express concerning 
Consequences ; and to comfort you (at the same time 
flattering my own Vanity) let me remind you, that I 
have sometimes been in the right in such Cases, when 
you happen'd to be in the wrong ; as I can prove upon 
you out of this very Letter of yours. Call to mind your 
former Fears for the King of Prussia, and remember my 
telling you that the Man's Abilities were more than 
equal to all the Force of his Enemies, and that he would 
finally extricate himself & triumph. This, by the 
Account you give me from Major Beckwith, is fully 
verified — You now fear for our virtuous young King, 
that the factious forming will overpower him, and render 



8 



his Reign uncomfortable. On the contrary, I am of 
Opinion, that his Virtue, and the Consciousness of his 
sincere Intention to make his People happy, will give 
him Firmness & Steadiness in his Measures, and in the 
Support of the honest Friends he has chosen to serve 
him ; and when that Firmness is fully perceiv'd, Faction 
will dissolve & be dissipated lik,e a Morning Fog before 
the rising Sun, leaving the rest of the Day clear, with a 
Sky serene & cloudless. Such after, a few of the first 
years, will be the future Court of his Majesty's Reign, 
which I predict will be happy & truly glorious. Your 
Fears for the Nation too, appear to me as little founded. 
A new War I cannot yet see Reason to apprehend. The 
Peace I think will long continue, and your Nation be as 
happy as they deserve to be, that is, as happy as their 
moderate Share of Virtue will allow them to be. Happier 
than that no outward Circumstances can make a Nation 
any more than a private Man — And as to their Quantity 
of Virtue I think it bids fair for Increasing ; if the old 
Saying, be true, as it certainly is, 

Ad Exemplum Regis, &c. 
My Love to M'** Strahan & j'our Children in 
which my Wife & Daughter join with 

Your ever affectionate Friend 

B. Franklin. 
First understood P. S. 



Extract of a Letter from Philadelphia dated Dec. 19. 

The western Indians about Fort Detroit now sue 
for Peace, having lost a great Number of their best 
Warriors in their vain Attempt to reduce that Fortress, 
and being at length assur'd by a Belt from the French 
Commander in the Ilinois Country, that a Peace is con- 
cluded between England and France, that he must 
evacuate the Country & deliver up his Forts, and can 
no longer supply or support them It is thought this 
will draw on a general Peace. I am only afraid it will 
be concluded before these Barbarians have sufficiently 
smarted for their perfidious breaking the last. 

The Governor of Detroit, Major Gladwin has 
granted them a Cessation of Arms, till the General's 
Pleasure is known 

W Strahan 



Franklin, Benjamin, a. I. s. Folio, 2 pages. Philadelphia, 
June 25, 1764. With address. 

Philad^-June 25. 1764 

Dear Sir, 

I wrote a few Lines to go to yow via Liverpool ; 
but they were too late for the Ship, and now accompany 

this. 

I gave M'' Parker a Power of Attorney to act for 
you and myself, with respect to Mecom's Affairs, who 
has, under Oath, surrended all lie possess'd into his 
Hands, to be divided proportionably between us and his 
other Creditors, which are chiefly Rivington & Fletcher, 
and Hamilton, and Balfour. The Effects consist of a 
Printing Press, some tolerably good Letter, and some 
Books and Stationary. He has render'd particular and 
exact Accounts, but his All will fall vastly short of 
Payment. I suppose it will scarce amount to 4 / in the 
Pound. Parker thinks him honest, and has let him have 
a small Printing House at Newliaven in Connecticut, 
where he is now at work ; — but having a Wife & a 
Number of small Children, I doubt it will be long ere 
he gets anything beforehand, so as to lessen much of 
his old Debt. I think it would be well for each of his 
Creditors to take again what remains unfold of their 
respective Goods, of which there are separate Accounts, 
and join in impowering M'' Parker to sell the Remain- 
der, to be divided among us. Tho' , on second Thought, 
perhaps the fairest Way, is to sell and divide the whole 
You can obtain their Sentiments, and send me your 
own. — As to what Parker owes you, it is very safe, and 
you must have Interest. 

I hope the Bath will fully re-establish good M'"- 
Strahan's Health. I enjoy the Pleasure with which 
you speak of your Children. God has been very good 
to you, from whence I think you may be assiued that 
he loves you, and that he will take at least as good care 
of your future Happiness as he has done of your pres- 
ent. What assurance of the Future can be better 
founded, than thnt which has been built on Experience 

cA'Ca^ past? Thank me for giving you this Hint, by 

the Help of which you may die as chearfuily as you 
live. If you had Christain Faith, quantum .suff. This 
might not be necessary ; — But as Matters are, it may be 

of Use. 

Your Political Letters are Oracles here. I be- 
seech you to continue them. With unfeigned Esteem, 
I am, as ever, Dear Friend, 

Yours affectionately 

M'' Strahan. B. Franklin. 



lO 

Franklin, Benjamin, a. I. s. Folio, 3 pages. Philadelphia, 
Sept. I, 1764. To Win. Strahan. With address. 

Philad'' Sept. i 1764 
Dear Stranej^ 

I received your obliging Letter of June 5. 1 

find bj' my Letter Book that I wrote to you May i. and 
June 25. 1 thought I had sent you one of my Narra- 
tives You cannot conceive the Number of Bitter 

Enemies that little Piece has rais'd me among the Irish 
Presbyterians I now send you a Pamphlet that I have 
written since in favor of our projected Change of Gov- 
ernment : and M'' Galloway's Speech with a Preface of 
mine against the Proprietary Party with whom I am 
still at War. and who will ere long either demolish me 
or I them. If the former happens, as possibly it may, 
Behold me a Londoner for the rest of my Days. At 
present I am here as much the Butt of Party Rage & 
Malice, express' d in Pamphlets and Prints, and have as 
many pelted at my Head in proportion, as if I had the 
Misfortune of being your Prime Minister. 

I wrote to you that Mecom's Effects were in 

Parker's Hands. The following is a Copy of the 

Receipt he gave for them. Parker will write to you 

by the next Packet ; at least I shall urge him to 

do it. 

New York, April 30, 1764. 

" Received of Benjamin Mecom, in Behalf of his 
" Creditors, and as Attorney particularly appointed by 
" Benjamin Franklin Esq. of Philadelphia and M'- 
" William Strahan of London Sundry Boxes of Books, 
" A Printing Press, and Printing Materials lately in the 
" said B. Mecom's Posession, as particularis'd in his Ac- 
" counts with said Benjamin Franklin, William Strahan, 

" Rivington & Fletcher, and Hamilton and Balfour, 

"all which I am to account for to my Constituents 
" which said Ledger is received by me As also the cash 
" cf sundry of said Mecom's Effects. Sold at Auction 
" amounting to ^28.10.7}^ an Ace* of which, and Re- 
" ceipt for it, is also rendered to him for the same Pur- 
" pose per me 

" James Parker." 

You will consult the others what steps to take for your 

common Benefit. 

I thank you for your Intelligence concerning 
your Publick Affairs : — accompanied with your judi- 
cious political Reflections. You can scarcely concieve 



II 



how acceptable and satisfactory your Letters always are 
on that Topic to me and my Friends. For my Part, I 

rely entirely on voiir Acc^^ & Sentiments ; only 

making a small Abatement where you forbode any Mis- 
fortunes. But that is mere Temper in me, which always 
loves to view the bright Sides of things 

Will continues very happy in his Government and 
the affections of the People. He and his Wife were 
well a few Davs since and desir'd their respectful Com- 
pliments to you and yours. M'^- Franklin and Sally 
[oin me in every good Wish for you and M''' Strahan cV 

your valuable Set of Children. God bless 'em all, 

and my Peggy as mickle as any two o' them. I want 
to hear Rachev upon the Armonica ; but her Atten- 
tion is piobabiv withdrawn from that, by her new Play- 
thing, the Baby, which furnishes more agreeable Musick. 

I am, my dear Friend, with sincere Esteem, 
Yours most affectionately 

B. Franklin. 

P S News is just arriv'd [ Please to send the 

of a Peace concluded at Presquisle ) Pamphlets to M'. 
with the Delawares & Shawness ] Small & D'- Hawks 
by Col. Bradstreet. I worth as directed 

I believe I complain 'd to you before that M^ 
Beeket neglected me. The reason I cannot conceive, 
and wish vou would tell me I wrote to him last 

Year for 'the following Books, and have never since 

heard a Word from him. 1 now request you to send 

them to me I know not what they will cost ; but on 
your showing the Acc't and this Letter to M"- Heuton 
Brown, Banker, he will immediately pay it 

Debates of the House of Commons by Architel 
Gray, Esq. 

Print of the Earl of Bute by Rylaud, if good 2 of 
them. 

Astronomical Tables & Precepts for Calculating the 
Times of the new & full moons, projecting Eclipses, &c. 

to A. D. 7800 by James Ferguson. 

Concise Acct. of the Rise of the Society of Aits. Hooper, 

Fielding, Universal Mentor. 

Philosophical Transaction Part I of Vol 49 Part I of 
Vol 50 Also Vol. 52, 53. & 54 all in blue Covers.— 



12 

Franklin, Benjamin. His Original Autograph Report of the 
Speech of Wm. Pitt, on the Stamp Act, and which Franklin 
sent to Strahan. 4to, 5 pages. With addre.ss and seal. 
" M'' Pitt spoke some time before one could 
divine on which side of tlie Question relating to America 
he would be, but beginning fir^t to mention the Stamp 
Act by the lose Term of that unhappy Act, he went on, 
and ever}' Time he had Occasion to mention it, it was 
by a Term still stronger, as unconsiihciiojial tcnjusl 
oppressive &c. till he finally declar'd in express Terms 
that the British Parliameut had in his Opinion no Right 
to raise internal Taxes in America, tho' it had to regu- 
late their Commerce &even restrain their Manufactures. 
He said many Things in favour of America, particularly 
that they had always readily granted Aids to the Crown 
in all our Wars, on Requisitions made to their several 
Assemblies, and particularly in the last War far beyond 
their Abilities, which the Pari' here considering has 
made them some Compensation ; that the Act was there- 
fore unnecessary ; that no Minister before the last, 
naming all the Ministers in order from the Revolution, 
& giving their Characters, some of whom were remark- 
able for their Firmness and Resolution, as well as their 
Understanding, had ever tlionght fit or ventnr'd to tax 
the Colonies ; that he himself was sometimes represented 
as rash enough for any thing, & there had not been 
wanting some during his Adm" that urg'd him to it as 
a thing that would have been acceptable to Gentlemen 
here, but they could not get him to burn his fingers, 
with so unnecessary, so unjust, and therefore so odious 
a Measure; The Arguments of virtual Representation, 
of the Case of the Colonies being the same with that of 
Corporations in England or of the Non Electors here, 
he treated with great Contempt as Trifling insignificant 
& ridiculous ; asserted that Representation in Pari' was 
originally & properly of Landed Property ; that every 
40"' a Year of lauded Property in England still is repre- 
sented by the Owners having a right to vote in Country 
Elec'^but that tho' a Man in America had looo;^ a Year 
in Land, it gave him no right to vote for a single Mem- 
of Parliam''- That the Representation of the Commons, 
was not an original Part of the Constitution ; — the 
Owners of Lands only were call'd to Parliam'- & all the 
Lands in Englan were divided between the King, the 
Church, & the Barons. The Church, God bless it, had 
one Third at least. The Commons, were mere Tenants 
or Copy holders. — But now the Case was greatly alter'd. 
The Church was stript of most of its Lands, & the Nobles 
had sold so much of theirs, that what remain'd in their 



13 

Hands was but like a Drop of the Bucket compar'd to 
what was now iu the Hands of the Commons. It was 
therefore on Ace' of their Land properly that the Com- 
mons were represented in Parliament. As to the Repre- 
sentation of Burroughs, it was wrong to suffer their 
sitting in Parlim'"- It was the rotten Part of our Con- 
stitution, & could not stand another Century. How 
could we with any Face maintain, that a Burrough of 
half a Dozen Houses ought to have a Representative in 
in Pari' to take care of its interests ; & yet that three 
Millions of People iu America with many Millions of 
Landed Property should not have a single Vote in the 
Election of any one Member. Mr. Grenville saying in 
Defense of the Act that he had before the Measure was 
entredinto, call'd upon the House, & ask'd if there was 
any one Member that doubted the Right of Parliament 
to lay an internal Tax on America; & and there was not 
one, M'' Pitt answered, that, That by no means prov'd 
the Rectitude of the Measure, for that there had long 
been in the House a Tenderness of opposing Ministerial 

Measures, a kind of what shall I call it — Modesty, 

that made the Members rather doubt their own judge- 
ments. He wished therefore that the young Members 
would apply themselves more to the Study of Publick 
Affairs, & qualifie themselves better to judge of them. — 
That their Silence should be no Proof of the goodness 
of a ministerial Measure, he reminded the House, that 
from Year to Year he had in the same Manner call'd 
upon the House, to know if any one dislik'd our then 
Continental Connections, and but one ever took the 
Freedom to speak his Mind on that Head, & he should 
like him the better for it as long as he liv'd ; "for he 
indeed said franklj^ "that he did not like what he was 
pleas'd to call my German War" But with the rest it went 
down glibly. — That Oppositions were generally inter- 
ested ; but his Sentiments of this Act had always been 
the same ; & he had ever dislik'd it as destructive 
to Liberty ; a Word often made use of by ambitious Men 
only as a Horse on which they might mount and ride 

itito Preferment but he had no such Views. M'' 

Conway remark'd on this, that the Preferment he was in 
was not of his own seeking ; and that whenever the 
hon'''*- Gentleman, for whose Abilities Integrity he 
had the highest Veneration, should be, as he sincerely 
hop'd he soon be, appointed to supersede him, he should 
with great Pleasure mo2:nt his Horse & ride out agatJi. 
These are the Particulars you chiefly desir'd an 
Ace' of 'Tis the best I can give you. But I am sensible 
the Expression is far short of that used by the 
Speakers. 



14 

Franklin, Benjamin, a. I. s. 4to. Loudon, March 19, 1767. 
To his son \Vm. Franklin. 

London, March 19, 1767. 
Dear Son 

Dining to day with M'' ^otts, I hear that Letters 
go by this Night's Post to Falmouth for the Chance of 
reaching the Packet. Therefore I write this Line just 
to say, that I received yesterday a Line from the 
Treasury acquainting me that M' Kollock is appointed 
upon my Recommendation to be Collector of Levies. I 
shall be more particular in my next. 

Your affectionate Father 

B. Franklin. 



Franklin, Benjamin. a. I. s. 410. Edinburgh, Oct. 27, 
1771. To Wm. Strahan. With address. 

Edinburgh, Oct. 27 
Dear Friend 1771 

Thro' Storms & Floods I arrived here on Satur- 
day night, late, & was lodg'd miserably at an Inn : 
But that excellent Christian David Hume, agreable to 
the Precepts of the Gospel, has received the Stranger, 
and I now live with him at his House in the new Town 
most happily I purpose staying about a Fortnight, and 
shall be glad to hear from you, I congratulate you on 
certain political Events that I know gives you Pleasure. 
Let me know how it is with you & yours, how my wife 
does, and Sir John Pringle, and our other Friends. 
With sincerest Esteem I am, my Dear Friend. 

Your most affectionately 

B. Franklin. 



Franklin, Benjamin, a. I. s. 4to. Passy, Oct. 12, 1777. 

To Monsieur La Marquis de Condorcet. With address and 

seal. 

Passy, Oct. 12, 1777. 

Dear Sir. 

I send you enclos'd the Letter you desire. But 
as I am apprehensive that the young Gentleman may 
have flattered himself with Expectations that are never 
likely to be answered in that Country, I wish he would 



15 

consider it well before he undertakes such a Voyage. 
If he will take the Trouble of calling on me, perhaps 
I may afford him some useful Lights on the Subject 

I have not yet seen in the Vol. of 1773 what you 
mention 

I am glad to hear that Mad'' la Duchesse d'Enville 
& the amiable Family were well. With the greatest 
Esteem & Respect. 

Your most 

humble Servant 

B. Franklin. 

P. S. I have read with the highest Pleasure your ex- 
cellent eloge de M C'Hopital. — I knew you before as a 
great Mathematician. I now consider you as one of the 
first among the Politicans of Europe. 



Franklin, William, a. I. s. Folio, 2 pages. Burlington, 
Oct. 14, 1763. To Wm. Strahan. With address. 

Burlington, Oct. 14, 1763 
Dear Strahan, 

In the Name of God what have I said or done to 
you, that so many months' should elapse, & so many 
Vessels arrive, without my having the Pleasure, of a 
single Line from you since my arrival in America. I 
can't help imagining that you must have wrote, & the 
Letter miscarried ; but MS F': says, she thinks you 
have quite forgot us, now we have left England, & 
that you will not trouble yourself about us any more. 
I hope she is mistaken, & that you will enable me to 
prove her so. I know you have a deal of business on 
your Hands, & perhaps have not had time to attend 
to the little Affairs which you were so kind as to 
undertake to transact for me. If this is the Case, I beg 
you would not put yourself to any inconvenience on my 
Account, but acquaint me with it as soon as you can 
conveniently, that I may employ some other Friend, 
who has more leisure, 

I wrote to you on the 25th of April & on the 
27th of June. In the last I sent you an Order on H 
Brown & Sons for 25 £ on my Account. I find by a 
Letter from MessS Sargent & Aufrere, that they have 
paid you a Ballance due to me of £6. 4. i They have 
since received the Return for my Insurance, amountintr to 
51 £ which I have wrote to them, by this vessel, to pay to 



i6 

you 071 your Order. I hope vou have long before this 
receiv'd the 50^ due to me from Goble. Mrs. F has 
wrote to Miss Clarke to purchase some Shoes &c for her, 
& to draw upon you for the Money, which please to pay 
& charge to my Account. — I should be glad you would 
send me a State of my Accoinut with you, as soon as is 
couvenient. 

Queries. Pray have you receiv'd the King's Pic- 
ture &c from the Jewel OiSce? Have you got my Pic- 
ture from Wilson ? and the Miniatures from Meyers 
or Jefferies? Has Chamberlyne got the Prints done? 
Have you sent me the Letter containing the Will , which 
I desired you to do from Plymouth ? 

As I hear my good Frieiid Parson Smith has 
taken the Liberty (even before he could hear of my Ar- 
rival here) to propagate a Report that my Appointment 
to this Government was disagreeable to the People, I 
could have wish'd that you had publish'd some of the 
Addresses to me, & my Speech, &c which were sent 
over to you. I believe no Governor was ever more af- 
fectionately receiv'd by all Ranks of People. Even 
with' those from whom I might have expected opposi- 
tion I am upon very good Terms. And as a convincing 
Proof of my luiluence, I have carried two Points which 
the Crown has long had at Heart, & which former Gov- 
ernors have often unsuccessfully attempted. In short, 
there is no more Foundation for Smith's Report than 
there is for believing him an honest Man. 

I am oblig'd to write this in a great Hurry less 
I. miss the Opportunity; which prevents my adding any 
Thing of News, or other Affairs. I must therefore 
refer you to M' Hall's Papers, & to the Bearer, M' Reed, 
a young Gent" of this Province who goes over for his 
Improvement in the Law ; and whom I take the liberty 
of recommending to your Notice as a Friend of mine, & 
a Person of Merit. 

M'^ F says .she cannot help loving you for all and 
joins in good Wishes for you & M'^ Strahan, with 

Dear Sir, 

Your most humble Servant, 

Wm. Franklin 

Please to insert the Addresses of the Trustees of the 
College, which you will see in one of the last Papers. I 
suppose you have already inserted the Speech. 



17 

Franklin, William, a.l.s. 410, 3 pages. Burlington, Nov. 
5, 1763. ToWm. Straban. With address and seal. 

Burlington, NovV 15, 1763 



Sir. 



The Assembly of this Province have just met 
upon my Summons, in order to raise some Men to go 
against the Indians, & and I am this Moment to make 
my Speech to them, so that this can little more than 
serve to acknowledge the Receipt of your letter by 
Tillet, & to desire your Care of the Enclosed, the Post- 
age of which you must charge to me. The Reason of 
my giving you this Trouble is because I have heard that 
some of my Letters to the Publick OiEcers have some 
how or other miscarried. — Lord Egremont I hear is 
dead, but the Letter should notwithstanding be left at 
Whitehall & I should be oblig'd to you to give the 
Letter for the Board of Trade to M': Pownall, & to have 
Lord Shelburne's Letter lef at his House. 

If the several Things which you mention to be of 
Crimson Damask are not made up before this comes to 
hand, I should be glad you would prevent it, & let the 
whole Quantity of Crimson Silk Damask to be given me, 
be changed for as much Yellow Silk & Worsted Da- 
mask as comes to the same Value. As the latter is 
cheaper than the other I may probably get by the Ex- 
change sufficient for three Window Curtains, to suit 
some Yellow Damask Chairs & Furniture I have in my 
Dining Room. The Fringe may likewise be changed 
for Yellow Fringe or Binding as may be judged most 
proper for the Curtains by the Upholsterer M"'^- F 
desires you will employ M'- Timothy Golding Uphol- 
sterer in Brewer Street near Golden Square, as she is 
acquainted with him, & thinks he will do it in best & 

most reasonable manner when he knows it is for her. 

The Curtains are to be 3 yards & ){ long, & 4 Breadths 
in each Curtain ; — to be hung Festoon Fashion He will 
probably take the Trouble of getting the Damask 
chang'd — If the Things should however be made up, 
the Office will I believe allow you for the Value of them 
in Money as they will do for other Governors ; — If they 
should not produce sufficient for the Curtains, let the 
Remainder be purchased, & charged to my Account ; & 
when I know the Amount of Golding's Bill I will remit 
the Money. — The Pictures &c. may be sent as soon as 

convenient. 

My Father desires M'- Chamberlyn would make 
a good Copy of his Picture which was done for Col. 
Ltidwell. Let it be put in a handsome Gilt Frame, & 



i8 



sent over, as soon as it can be well done, to him. — We 
are all well & join in Love to you & M'^- Strahau — I am 
Dear Sir. 
Yours &c. 

W*^- Franklin. 



Dear Sir. 



Burling"- May i, 1764 



Yours of the 26^*^ of Dec"- with a short Post- 
script of Jan'- 30, is come to hand. The above is a 
Copy of the Letter I sent per Friend which you mention 
not to have received. I suppose it is now too late to 
have the Contents comply'd with. Be pleased in that 
Case, to tell M'' Golding to make the Curtains notwith- 
standing, according to the above Directions, & I will 
remit the Money as soon as I know the Amount. And 
if the Plate be not sent away before this reaches you, I 
should be glad to have it commuted for a handsome 
Silver Waiter, large enough to hold four Cups & 
Saucers with the Cream Pot ; — a Quart Tankard with 
a Top to it ; — a /*/«/ Cann ; — & a half Pint Cann. The 

Tayikard & Canns to be quite plain. M'- Jeffries has 

done these kind of Things for other Governors, & I 
doubt not will do the same for me. Should there be a 
Ballance coming to him let him charge it to me, as I 
shall have other Dealings with him. — The Bible & three 
of the Prayer Books may be sent over, & the rest may 
be disposed of — I hope you have rec'd the 31 £ from 
Mess'"- S. & Aufrere, if you have not 'twill be paid on 
your sending for it. — Next Week I entend going to 
Philad"- when I shall purchase a Bill & send you, & 
write you more particularly than I can at present. — My 
Reason for not writing you anj' American Politics was 
because this Province aff'orded nothing of any Conse- 
quence, & I have been so taken up as not to attend to 
the Affairs of others. As to what passes in Pensylv."^ 
I suppose my Father & M'- Hall give you full Accounts. 
Both that Province & Maryland seem to be in a State 
of Anarchy, & unless the King takes them under his 
immediate Government (which all but the Proprietary 
officers & Dependants are anxious for) the worst of 
Consequences will probably ensue. — I believe (but you 
must not mention it) that you will see my Father again 
in England shortly, as the Inhabitants are very desirous 
he should take another Voyage there, in order to obtain 
a Change of Government. He has published two 
Pamphlets lately, One called a Narrative of the Murder 
of the Indians at Conestogce, & another Cool Thoughts, 
&c. which are not too large for your Chron. & I believe 



19 

most of your Readers will be glad to see them there, I 
suppose M'- H. sends them. A Period will probably 
be put to the Indian War this Summer. Sir Wm. 
Johnson has made Peace with the Senecas. They de- 
liver up the Indians who first fell upon our Frontiers ; 
grant a large Tract round Niagara to the King & his 
Heirs, with a free Transportation over that Portage to 
all His Majesty's Subjects, without Fee or Reward. 
They have given Hostages for the Performance of the 
Articles ; & have joined the rest of the Confederated 
Nations against our Enemies Sir Wm. expects great 
Things from all of them : Near 400 are now out against 
the Enemy Indians — I was much entertained with your 
Letter to my Father. It made me imagine myself pre- 
sent at the Debates. — M''^- F. is uneasy at not receiving 
a Box which Miss Clarke mentions to have been d''- to 

you the 8'^'- of Jan. '5 ■ We continue well & happy. 

Our best Wishes atteud you & M"'^- Strahan — I am, 
Dear Sir, 

Yours aflfectionately 

Wm. Franklin. 

Franklin, William, a. I. s. 2 pages. Burlington, Dec. 18, 
1763. To Wm. Strahan. With address and seal. 

Burlington, Dec''- 18, 1763. 
Dear Sir, 

I have by Capt. Friend acknowledged the Receipt 
of yours by Tillet, together with the Tea & Cheese. 
Since which I have receiv'd yours of Oct'- 8, by Handle, 
but the 2 Boxes from M" Hughes, & the one contain- 
ing th Metzotintos, are not yet got to hand, owing to 
the Ice which has rendered the River impassable for the 
Stage Boats. This same Ice too has I hear frightened 
Budden so, that he intends to put ofi immediately, less 
he should be shut up for the Winter. As we are not 
likely to have another Vessel sail from hence till the 
Spring, I intended to have wrote you a long Letter, but 
it is now out of my Power, and I question if even these 
few Lines will be in Time for Budden. 

I am much obliged to you for inserting my first 
Speech, & and I know desire you will insert my Second, 
together with the Assembly's Address in Answer. They 
will give you an Idea of our Situation with regard to the 
Indians. You will find them both in M'- Hall'^ Papers 
sent by this Opportunity. The Title of the Governor, 
if put at length to the Speech, should be the same as that 
to the Address, the first being wrong printed And in the 
last Part of the Paragraph relative to the Mililia Law, 



20 



instead of the Words [to 3'ou as absolutely necessary] 

insert [so your Consideration]. 1 have still a perfect 

Harmony with every Body in the Province, & shall not 
fail to follow the good Advice you give me for that Pur- 
pose. My hearty Thanks are due to you on that as well 
as many other Occasions. 

I wish the King & Queen's Pictures were finished, as 
there is no Picture of either of them (except the Prints) 
yet sent to N. America Please to tell M'- Myers if it is 
possible that he has not yet finish'd the Miniatures) 
that M™- Franklin would be glad to have them made 
a little fatter, as I have increas'd considerably in Flesh 
since I left London ; But Care must be taken not to alter 
the Likeness. She would likewise be glad to have my 
Father's Picture from M'- Chamberlyne's (which I 
wrote for in my Last) & mine from M'- Wilson's, as our 
Dining Room remains unfurnised for Want of them. — 
Please to ask M''- Wilson if he receiv'd a Letter I wrote 
to him soon after my Arrival here? — I refer you to my 
Letter per Friend, with regard to what I would have 
done with the Crimson Damask, &c. which you were to 
receive for me. 

I hope you have receiv'd the ^i£ from Mess"- S. & 
Aufrere. I dont believe I shall have Morey enough in 
your Hands to answer all the Demands that will be made 
on you for sundry Things I have ordered from England, 
but I shall soon remit you a Bill. Miss Clark will have 
I believe upward of 30^ to receive. Miss Smith ^£ 
besides what I wrote to you to pay M'- Small, &c. — I 
should be glad Becket w"? send me all the Vols, of Rutt- 
head, Statues now published, & the other Vols, as 
they come out ; Also the Numbers printed of Mills's 
Husbandry, & those monthly Pieces of some Gent"- of 
the Society of Arts. These may be directed for me to 
the Care of M'- Hall, as I w? have every thing you 
send for me. 

We are greatly rejoic'd to hear M"- Strahan is so 
well recovered. You have both of you our Wishes for 
a long uninterrupted State of Health & Happiness. — 
I am. Dear Sir, 

Yours affectionately 

Wm. Frankun. 
P. S. Hall has promis'd to send me 

the Politics of your Letters, but 
he has not done it. — 
The Things which Miss Clarke may send please to for- 
ward to M"^- Hall, & insure them with his goods. I 
will settle it with him. 
Excuse Haste. 



Franklin, William, a. I. s. Folio, 4 pages. Burlington, 
Feby 18, 1765. To Wm. Strahan. 



Burlington, Feb'7 18, 1765 



Dear Sir. 



I perceive by the Chronicle that my Letter to you 
of Sept.'"- 21 (which enclosed you a second Bill for 30^ 
Sterling) has got safe to hand, as you have therein pub- 
lished an Extract of it, for which I am much obliged 
to you. But wether you receiv'd mine of May r, 1764, 
containing Wi^ first Bill for 30/^, I have not heard. The 
last Letter I have receiv'd from you is dated Mar. 23, 
1764. But as I have since receiv'd some Tea and Shoes 
which you were so good as to forward for me to M'- 
Hall, I doubt not but you have also wrote, tho' I have 
not had the Pleasure of receiving your Letter. I have 
a great Suspicion that some of the Proprietary Politi- 
cians in Pennsylvania have been mean enough to inter- 
cept many of my Letters from England, in hopes of 
finding something of which they may take advantage ; 
for I have of late receiv'd several Things from different 
Persons in England without any Letter accompaning 
them. For the future, be pleased to send your Letters 
to me under Cover to Mess'* Baynton and Warton Mer- 
chants in Philadelphia. 

I have no Copy of the Letter I sent you in June, 
but I remember it contain 'd X\ie. first Bill for 30^, and 
an Acknowledgment of the Receipt of the Trunk con- 
taining the Common Prayer Books, Damask, &c. In 
mine of NovL' 15, 1763. I desired you get the Silk Da- 
mask changed for some Silk & Worsted Damask, & to 
have it made into Curtains for my Dining Room by M'- 
Timothy Golding, Upholsterer in Brewer Street near 
Golden Square, who having formerly work'd for M'''- 
Franklin & her Brother's Family would perhaps make 
them more reasonably than others. But as that Letter 
miscarried, & as I thought the Damask would probably 
be sent over. I desired you in my Letter of May i, to tell 
M"' Golding to make the Curtains notwithstanding, ac- 
cording to these Directions, viz. "Three Curtains of F.f//ozf 
" Silk and Worsted Damask ; Each Curtain to be Three 
" Yards & a Quarter long.— to contain four Breadths of 
"the Damask — and to be hung Festoon Fashion." And 
I likewise desired that if the Chapel Plate was not sent 
away, that you would have it commuted for a handsome 
Silver Waiter (large enough to hold four Cups & Sau- 
cers with the Cream Pot). A Quart Tankard with a 



22 



Top— a Pint Cann,— & a half Pint Cann. The Tank- 
ard & Canns to be quite plain. — If you have not receiv'd 
those Letters, and already sent the Things, I should be 
glad you would as soon after the Receipt of this as you 
can conveniently. — The Canns indeed if not sent, may 
be omitted, as I have been obliged to purchase such 
here. — M'' Jefferies, the King's Cutler, has been used 
to commute Things ot this kind for other Governors, & 
will I doubt not readily do the same for me I should 
be glad to have your Account as soon suits your Conve- 
nience. The Ballance due to you, I desired my Father 
to pay, which he promised. — I have not receiv'd the 
Books from Becket which I wrote for, & perhaps he 
has omitted to send them. 

We have not heard anything from my Father since 
he sail'd, but I hope he has been safely landed in England 
at least two Months ago. Since he left us, M'- Allen, 
one of the principal Prop''^- Tools in Pensylvania, has 
employ'd that Miscreant Parson Smith, & two or three 
other Prostitude Writers to asperse his Character, in 
which they have been very industrious. However, 
they have lately receiv'd a terrible Shock from M''- 
Hughes, one of my Father's Friends, who being in- 
censed at their base Conduct published an Advertise- 
ment sign'd with his Name, in which he promised that if 
M'- Allen, or any Gent"- of Character, would undertake 
to justify the Charges brought against M'- Franklin, he 
would pay lo £, to the Hospital for every one they 
should prove to the Satisfaction of impartial Persons, 
provided they would pay 5 £ for every Falshood helshould 
prove they had alledg'd against M'' Franklin. But 
this Challenge they were afraid to accept, & therefore 
still kept their Names concealed ; but as they thought 
that something must be done, they endeavoured to turn 
M'' Hughes's Challenge into Ridicule, & raise the 
Laugh against him by an anonymous Answer. He, 
however, published a Reply, with his Name subscribed, 
in which he has lash'd them very severely for their 
Baseness. Not being able to answer this, they em- 
plo3''d one Dove, a Fellow who has some Talent, for 
the lowest kind of Scurrility, to publish a Print, with 
some Verses annex'd, vilifying my Father & some of 
the most worthy Men of the Province. By way of Re- 
venge some Writer has attack'd them in their own 
Way, & turn'd all Dove's Verses against M'- Allen, he 
being the Head of the Prop''''' Party. This has enraged 
him excessively as those Verses & the Print had cost 
him upwards of 25 £. You will probably have seen, 



23 

before this reaches you, the Advertisement, Answer, & 
Reply, as they were printed in M'- Hall's Newspaper, 
& therefore I send you the enclosed Pamphlet, which 
is likely to put a Stop to that kind of writing here for 

the future, as was the Intention of the Author. The 

Malice of the Prop'^ Party against my Father, on Ac- 
count of his wanting to bring about a Change of Govern- 
ment, is beyond all Bounds. They glory in saying & 
doing Things to destroy his Character that would make 
even Devils blush If he does not succeed I know not 
what will become of the Province as there is such a 
rooted Hatred among a great Majority of the People 
against the Prop'*- Family. — Do let me hear what you 
think of his Undertaking, &c. &c. — 

Pray hasten M'- Ramsay with the King & Queen 
Picture, & send it over with mine at M'- Wil.sons. 

M''- Stockton, the Gentleman who will deliver 
you this, is a considerable Lawyer of this Province, & 
a particular Friend of mine. Give me leave to recom- 
mend him to your Acquaintance, and to desire that you 
would treat him with the Sight of S'- Johnson, & a few 
more of your Authors ; for we Americans when we go 
to England, have as much Curiosity to .see a live Author 
as Englishmen have to .see a live Ostrich, or Cherokee 
Sachem. 

M"'^- Franklin joins in Love to good M''^- Strahan 
& yourself with, Dear Sir. 

Your sincere Friend 
& obliged hum. Serv'- 

\Vm. Franklin. 

P. S. I hope you have paid 

M'- Small and also M' 

Jackson of the Temple, agreeable 

to what I wrote you before. The latter is 

about 27 / 

To Wm. Strahan 



24 

Franklin, WiLUAM. a.l.s. 410,4 pages. Burlington, Jany 
29, 1769. To Wm. Strahan. 

Burlington, Jan.^y 29, 1769 — 
Dear Sir— 

If a due Sense of one's Fault is any Step towards 
Amendment, I may hope that I shall hereafter become 
a more regular Correspondent; for never was Man 
more asham'd of, nor angry with, himself, than I have 
been on Account of my having so long neglected ac- 
knowledging the Receipt of your Favor by M'- Alexan- 
der. I have nothing to plead in Excuse, bnt that it 
was constantly in my Intention to write, and that tho' 
I have somehow or other, from time to time, omitted 
doing it, yet it was never owing to any Abatement of 
that Regard and Friendship which I have ever enter- 
tain 'd for you, from our first Acquaintance. It gives 
me, indeed, much Concern, that there should be such a 
Chasm in our Correspondence; But as the Business of 
my Office occasions me a great deal of Writing, and as 
my Income (my necessary Expences considered) will 
not allow me to keep even a private Secretary or Clerk 
to copy iny Dispatches, it is not possible that I should 
keep up so constant & regular a Correspondence with 
my Friends as I could wish. I have shewn, and shall 
continue to shew. M'' Alex'.' all the Civilities, & render 
him all the Service in my Power, both on his own Ac- 
count and your Recommendation. He has been for 
several Weeks together at my House, and I employ'd 
him in doing as much Painting as came to ninety Gui- 
neas, besides getting him Business in that way from 
several of my Friends. So that if he don't succeed in 
recovering his Lands (which, however, I believe he will) 
he cannot be any great Loser by his Voyage. He was 
last Year depriv'd of the Use of his Limbs by a fit of 
Sickness, but is since recovered & got to work again. 

This will be delivered to you by a particular 
Friend of mine, M'' Samuel Wharton Merchant of Phil- 
adelphia; who I beg leave to recommend to your Civili- 
ties. He is a Gentleman of Character & Abilities, and, 
from what he has heard me say of you, is very desirous 
of the pleasure of being of your Acquaintance. — I dare 
say you will like him, and I am sure he will like you — 
I long much to have a Chat with you on our American 
Affairs, which are really become very critical. But I 
durst not trust my Sentiments on that Subject to a 
Letter for fear of Accident. M'- Wharton, however, 
is capable of giving you very exact Information of the 



25 

state of Affairs on this Side the Water. We wait with 
Impatience to hear the Result of this Session of Parlia- 
ment with respect to America — Your Letters of political 
Intelligence, which MV- Hall generally publishes in his 
Paper, afford ns, from time to time, the best Informa- 
tion we receive of what is doing in Parliament, it con- 
taining many interesting Particulars, & little Anecdotes, 
which we have not thro' any other Channel. 

M'^- Franklin & I were much concern 'd at the 
Loss you sustain'd in the Death of your very amiable 
Daughter Johnston. We hope her Children are well, 
& afford you & M"- Strahan a good deal of Comfort. 
Our best wishes attend you both — Remember me kindly 
to your Son William, and to my young Mother, who, I 
suppose, is now grown a Woman, and will, ere long add 
to her & your Happiness, by taking unto herself a Hus- 
band. I heartily wish her a good one, and am, with 
the sincerest Regards, 

Dear Sir, 

Your most faithful 
& obedient Servant 
M'- Wm. Strahan. Wm. Franklin. 

by M'- Wharton. 



Franklin, William, a. I. s. Folio. Burlington, June 21, 
1771. To Wm. Strahan. 



Burlington, June 21, 1771. 



Dear Friend, 



I am obliged to you for yours of June 17, & for 
the Care you took in sending my Letter from my Father. 
It is dated April 24. It mentions the Ohio Affair being 
in a prosperous Way, but directs me not to say any 
thing about it, as many Things happen between the Cup 
& Lip. If the present administ" stand their Ground, 
we may expect, I think, to hear of something decisive 
on that Head soon 

The Boat is just going — 

Yours affecty 
W. Franklin. 



26 

Franklin, William, a. I. s. Folio. Perth Amboy, May 7, 
1775. To Wm. Strahan. 

Perth Amboy, May 7, 1775 

Dear Sir, 

I sent the enclosed Packet to New York this Day, 
in order to go by Capt. Lawrence, but was returned to 
me by my Friend there, with an Acc^ of Capt. Lawrence 
having sailed yesterday. But as Cap! Coupar is to sail 
from thence to London on Tuesday, my Friend advises 
me to put my Packet undercover to .some private Person 
in London, in whom I can confide, and send it by him. 
I have therefore taken the Liberty to enclose it to you, 
as otherwise there would be danger of its being opened 
by some of the Sons of Liberty at New York if seen in 
Cap*- Coupar's Bag, or, perhaps by some of his Passen- 
gers. This too will excuse me for not directing to you 
as Member of Parliament or King's Printer. 

Your Favor of th 5"'- of Feb''''- by Falconer came 
to hand last week, and shall be answered fully as soon 
as I have any Leisure. At present I have scarcely Time 
to subscribe myself. 
Wm. Strahan, Esq'"- Your affectionate Friend 



& most obed'- Serv*- 
Wm. Franklin. 



P. S. I have this Moment 
heard that my Father ar- 
rived at Philad"-on Friday 
evening last which is quite 
unexpected News to me. 



Franklin, William, a. I. s. Folio. New York, May 19, 
1780. To William Strahan. With address. 

New York, May ig**^- 1780 
Dear Sir, 

My last to you was dated the 30*^- of November. 
This is just to advise you that I have this Day drawn 
on you, in two Sets of Exchange, for Two hundred and 
forty-three Pounds Fifteen Shillings Sterling, payable 
to M'- Frederic W'" Geyer, or Order, Tens Days after 
sight. — One Set for 100^ and the other for ^143. 15:0 — 
This is for a half Year's Allowance, after the Deduction 
of Six-pence in the Pound, There was a Year's allow- 
ance due on the s\^ of last Month, the whole of which, 
I suppose, you have received Quarterly as it became due. 
We have no News of any Consequence but what 
you will see in the public Papers. If what is con- 
tained in that published this Day (as brought from the 



27 

West Indies) prove true it must be attended with 
the greatest Advantages to the British Interest 

In haste, but ever 

Yours affectionately 

Wm. Franklin. 
W™ Strahan, Esq'' 



Franklin, William, a. I. s. Folio. New York, Nov. 6, 
1 78 1. To Wm. Strahan. With address. 

New York, Nov'- 6, 1781 
Dear Sir. 

Since the unhappy surrender of Lord Cornwallis 
every Per.son is anxious to get his Property remitted to 
Great Britain, A Friend of mine, Isaac Bonnel, Esq'- 
formerly High Sheriff at Amboy, having no Acquaint- 
ance in England, has requested me to get you to re- 
ceive the Money for the four inclosed Bills of Exchange, 
amounting to ^ 1999 • 7 • 5 sterling, and lodge it in the 
Funds, in his Name, in such Manner as you may think 
will be most for his Advantage. You to receive the 
Interests from Time as it may l)ecome due, and to let it 
lay in your Hands until he may draw for it, or other- 
wise direct. In Complying with his Request you will 
add to the many Obligations already conferred on. 

Dear Sir, 

Your most obedient 
Servant 

Wm. Franklin. 
P. S. The Bills are drawn by 
Gordon «& Crowder on Harley and Drummond 
viz— I for 300:0:0 
I 325:0:0 

I 1200:0:0 
I for 174:7:5 



first Set 



/; 1999:7:5 Sterling 

Inclosed is a Rebel Papar or two, I have not Time to 
write to any Body but Lord Geo. Germain excuse haste 



LBN 14 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



011 782 248 5 § 



